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Patricia Racette as Tosca at SF Opera


Tosca-sfopera-racette* Notes * 
The second performance of Tosca at San Francisco Opera featured three different principals (Patricia Racette as Tosca and Brian Jagde as Cavaradossi pictured left, photograph by Cory Weaver) to fairly fine effect. Patricia Racette’s portrayal of Tosca is dramatically convincing. Though the timbre of her vibrato always makes this listener uncomfortable, she sings with a lot of fire. Racette’s quieter passages can be quite pretty. She is a great actress, and despite being less than willowy, all her movements are easily read even from the back of the house. Her “Vissi d’Arte” was moving.

Brian Jagde has a bright, occasionally brassy, sound as Cavaradossi. His voice shows a good deal of emotion: cheeriness at the beginning, subsequent anger at Scarpia, and then tenderness with Tosca. He got carried away with the second “Vittoria” in Act II, but sang a poignant “E lucevan le stelle.” Mark Delavan’s performance of Scarpia was less ardent, and there were moments in Act I when he was completely drowned out by the orchestra. One longs for a bit more heft and weight for this role. Delavan improved in Act II, he was more audible and the attractiveness of his voice became more apparent.

* Tattling * 
There were significantly fewer latecomers to this performance compared to the first one on Thursday. There was some whispering, but no serious ill-mannered behavior was noted in the back of the balcony.

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9 responses to “Patricia Racette as Tosca at SF Opera”

  1. Vajra Avatar
    Vajra

    I was blown away by this “Tosca”. Of course, I’m a huge fan of Patricia Racette, but I think this is one of the best Toscas I have ever seen. I thought all the singing was wonderful, and found Jagde, who I saw in Santa Fe in the same role, to be a true Cavardossi, young and ardent. And Racette was truly divine.

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  2. Lilacrobin Avatar
    Lilacrobin

    In all my years as an Opera-Goer, I have (sadly) NEVER seen a great Tosca. It seems there was always a weak Tosca, Scarpia, Cavardossi – or Maestro.
    Last night was almost perfect. Maestro Nikki was BORN to lead this passionate piece. Pat Racette…as Vajra said, was indeed DIVINE. Her breath control in “Vissi d’Arte” was unbelieveable. And…no one these days can match her acting. For the first time, I saw Floria Tosca – not a Soprano. She made those little hairs on the back of my neck stand up…. and yes, I wept…
    Brian, who we both saw in Santa Fe, is now really growing into the role – vocally and acting wise. Pat was giving him a lot of coaching during the two rehearsals I saw…. (and he was wise enough to listen) ..together, they were believable as a couple deeply in love.
    You were spot-on about Mark Delevan – I also found his voice a little masked in Act I…but…oh how he redeemed himself in Act II….a fantastic, evil, corrupt man….but with that incredible smile (just a touch of Der Wanderer from Siegfried remaining)….
    An astounding night. How I wish I had been there on Thursday to see Melody ascend into greatness….something I always believed in after her truly glorious Susan Rescorla* in Heart of a Soldier… as for Ms. G….I will be there (filling in for a sick friend) tomorrow… we’ll just wait and see.. there is NOTHING like Opera!
    Hugs,
    ♥ Robin ♥

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  3. The Opera Tattler Avatar
    The Opera Tattler

    Agreed, this is one of the best Toscas I have heard live.

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  4. The Opera Tattler Avatar
    The Opera Tattler

    Racette’s voice seems much better supported than Gheorghiu’s. I think I preferred Pieczonka’s voice as Tosca, but Racette is a better actress, and this cast seems to have a better dynamic than that one did (last time this opera was here).
    I hope you get to hear Melody in this role at some point, if not today. Though I don’t wish Gheorghiu ill, of course. Melody just has a gorgeous voice.

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  5. EBrown Avatar
    EBrown

    I was going to see both “Tosca” but after seeing Racette, I decided not to see Gheorghiu, preferring to keep my memory of Friday night. However, if Melody should have to take over, I will definitely go. Her performance received accolades.

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  6. Kozmika Avatar
    Kozmika

    Don’t NOT see/hear Miss Gheorghiu. Hers is a TOSCA much different but no less effective than Miss Racette’s portrayal. I am in awe of Miss Racettes breath control and acting abilities but I am very much a fan of Miss Gheorghiu’s version of Floria Tosca.

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  7. Lilacrobin Avatar
    Lilacrobin

    Sadly, no Melody yesterday… but, I can say I saw the A cast… who really weren’t too A-ish. Massimo Giordano, who did visit the Canteen and sampled some brownies before going on, was (to me) adequate on the vocal front…Roberto Frontali was also adequate…but I missed his lusting in ACT II….Mark D. does it much better, as for Ms. G…she was medicore – at best. Vocally, she was weak and sometimes flat….and acting – well, there wasn’t much…she made next-to-no eye contact with Giordano in ACT I…she spent most of her time, pursing her lips together and fussing with her extensions.
    Over-the-top in ACT II..acting wise….vocally, a little stronger. Act III..again, not a lot of eye contact with Giordano – and every time he kissed her, she spent the next minute repeatidly wiping her lips… it was (for me) an Ewwwwww moment.
    None of them could compare to the B (for BEST) cast….still, I live in hope Melody will ascend the stage at least once more.
    Maestro Nikki and the Orchestra…. gorgeous…
    Big hugs,
    ♥ Robin ♥

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  8. Alexis Marlons Avatar
    Alexis Marlons

    I was never a fan of operas, but Tosca made my heart melt,and I became a fan eversince. Thank you for sharing..

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  9. Roberto Avatar
    Roberto

    I gave up on Angela G. many years ago. The last time she sang here (Mimi) was the nail in the coffin. It was a no-brainer that the cast B was more interesting to the cast A and I changed my season ticket to the cast B.
    Mark Delavan as Scarpia was perhaps my biggest surprise for this season. I was really curious. My expectation was somewhat high because despite his overly debated flaws, I like him. I think he is a smart and competent singer. Did he deliver yesterday? Oh boy, yes, he did! For me, in order to Scarpia – or even the whole opera – to work, he needs to scare me. I am still thrilled by his performance. He nailed. He completely nailed. As for his voice, my impression is that it gained weight and became darker since last year’s Ring.
    But who owned the night was of course Patricia Racette. What a stunning performance! Her voice is gorgeous, despite to be not as shinning as … let’s say… Leontyne, for example. There is an interesting vibrato on her instrument that is very peculiar. She has an amazing technique that suits well with Puccini’s heroines. She is also a great actress with tremendous charisma. She owned the stage. Tosca was made to her. Patricia was Tosca. After the disappointment of Adrianne Pieczonka in 2009, I finally saw a memorable Tosca in the War Memorial.
    Great singers just don’t shine. They make others shine too. I already talked about Delavan. Brian Jagde was the third vertex of the triangle. He is still very young and his voice is growing. There was not a lot of his personality on the two arias, but he sang better when Patricia was there with him.
    Luisotti had another stellar performance. Can I use the word perfect? What better adjective can I use for the orchestra balance? Is it my impression or he took this orchestra to another level since Runnicles left?
    One more: Are we adopting the Met curtain call? I like the way it used to be.

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